Let me be clear about something right up front: Compared to most other “Ultimate Team” modes seen in modern sports games, Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 25 is easily the best I’ve ever played. Because of the massive skill gap involved in both hitting and pitching, most players prioritize getting better over having the latest, greatest cards. That said, the game isn’t immune to the kind of grind seen in most card-collecting modes.
At the end of the day, gaming is a business. And despite San Diego Studio’s MLB The Show being the least of the offenders out there, it is an offender nonetheless. Too often — especially this year — the best cards in the game have been locked behind a paywall. And because Diamond Dynasty is a mode that capitalizes on gamers’ unhealthy “fear-of-missing-out” addiction, many might find themselves forking out real money in order to buy Stubs (the in-game currency) in order to constantly upgrade their teams.
